The remixed Church & General National Football League has been a featureless affair to date. Maybe it's the fault of the draw that the sections haven't thrown up much in the way of enticing fixtures; one section is wildly competitive, but the others far less engaging. There have been no counties grabbing the headlines on account of either unseasonal fitness levels or for more enduring reasons.
Eight of the top 10 teams over the four sections either played in Division One last year or, in the case of Louth and Laois, were bound for there until the reconstruction intervened.
One of the summer's big surprises is reprised in Cork tomorrow when Clare visit Pairc Ui Rinn in Section D. Martin Daly's last-minute goal left Cork's year in tatters after early promise in last season's League came to nothing in the final against Kerry.
Unfortunately for Clare they must field a much-weakened team and presumably morale isn't hectic after their defeat in last Sunday's B final. Cork are strengthened because of the return of their county final contingent after Beara's victory last Sunday.
Little new has accrued to the county ranks with Niall Cahalane embarking on another season and Ciaran O'Sullivan and Ollie O'Sullivan coming into to represent champions Beara. The captaincy has still to be assigned to either of them, but Ollie is the favourite as he captained both the county champions and divisional winners Garnish.
Cahalane is joined by clubmate Colm Crowley, who got Castlehaven's goal in the final. Given the county's dire need of scoring forwards, his progress will be expectantly monitored during what should be a a third successive win.
Elsewhere in the section, comfortable away wins can be reasonably forecast for Down, who visit Waterford, and Roscommon, who travel to Limerick although the Connacht county has learned that it must face the immediate future without captain Enon Gavin who has chosen to take a rest. Joint leaders Kildare travel to Templemore where their progress is unlikely to be arrested by Tipperary.
In Section C, the so-called group of death (cf Mickey Whelan), All-Ireland and Munster champions Kerry visit their Leinster counterparts Offaly in Tullamore. To say that with Maurice Fitzgerald out, Kerry's attack is weakened makes for splendid understatement, but Offaly are also missing a key player with Finbar Cullen still laid up by that clout that scattered his teeth around Parnell Park.
Kerry are in good shape for this stage of the League with four points out of four, albeit secured from two of the bottom sides, but tomorrow may prove more of a difficulty as Offaly are capable of slick football even if they restrict it to sporadic bursts. Fired up by an enthusiastic home crowd, Offaly may well land the points.
Cavan entertain Tyrone at Breffni Park after a bad start to the season. Damien O'Reilly takes up the reins of management on what he insists is a temporary basis. The visit of Tyrone, on full points, presents a tricky task. But the visitors have their own difficulties and are still bothered by injuries and the morale-sapping defeat of Errigal Ciaran last weekend. Furthermore they lost two eyeballing encounters with Cavan last season and stand in line for a repeat tomorrow.
Dublin travel to Wexford with an interesting selection by temporary manager Lorcan Redmond, featuring Keith Barr at full back in a move long discussed in the city. Wexford have started miserably but can take (limited) encouragement from having defeated Dublin in their last two competitive encounters (the O'Byrne Cup this and last year).
Section A's best match is the meeting of Laois and Galway at Ballinasloe with Hugh Emerson back for the visitors and an evolving look for the westerners as John O'Mahony refines his theories. Sigerson Cup player Michael Cloherty comes into the team for a vital match which Galway have every chance of taking.
In Section B, Donegal follow their impressive win over Derry with a trip to Armagh who have been trampling all over their weaker bretheren in the first two series of matches. It will be considerably tighter tomorrow, but they should maintain their 100 per cent record.
On the club front, there are hurling semi-finals in Munster and Leinster. Limerick's Patrickswell, who haven't been thriving in the province in recent years, will probably be too experienced for new Tipperary champions Clonoulty-Rossmore, even with Declan Ryan aboard.
There should be a similar story at Portlaoise where new boys Dunamaggin from Kilkenny come face to face with 1995 All-Ireland champions Birr, while at Nowlan Park, last year's finalists, O'Tooles of Dublin, will have their work cut out against Laois's Castletown whose predecessors Camross are the title holders.
Finally, three hurling-shinty internationals take place this afternoon in Oban, Scotland. Munster, as Railway Cup champions, represent Ireland in the senior match - in which Scotland are unbeaten in the last four meetings. The under21 side will be represented by All-Ireland champions Cork, and the day starts with an under-12 match featuring a Kilkenny selection.
